Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has categorically stated,"we would not close the religious seminaries, hospitals and other welfare institutions being run under the supervision of banned Jamaat-ud-dawah, Al-Rasheed Trust, and Jaish-i-Muhammad because these were providing facilities to the needy people.
Addressing a press conference here on Saturday he said "there was no justification to close the welfare institutions run by charity organisations". Chief Minister said that Punjab Government would take action against such organisations that were involved in terrorist activities if the Federal Government would provide solid proof of their indulgence in any subversive and unlawful activities. He said that these charity organisations were doing work for the betterment and rehabilitation of the needy people.
Commenting on the statement of NWFP Governor that extremist people of southern Punjab had joined hands with the insurgents in Swat and other northern areas, Chief Minister said that no evidence was provided in this regard. If intelligence and law enforcing agencies would provide solid proof about the involvement of extremists from Southern Punjab in terrorist activities then we would take action against them. Chief Minister said that his government would not call the rangers for maintaining peace during the long march of lawyers." It is our discretion to call the rangers for the assistance of civil administration," Chief Minister said. If federal Government sends the rangers to check the long march then it would be a breach of the provincial autonomy ensured in the constitution.
Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif said PML-N is bound to follow charter of democracy and confrontation would not be allowed in the province. Shahbaz said some elements are trying to create the atmosphere of confrontation, which is not in the favour of province and the masses. He said government is working hard to solve the public issues in Multan.
Makhdoom Javed Hashmi was also present on this occasion. The chief minister directed the authorities to make arrangements for supply of imported fertiliser from Karachi to Punjab to make it available before February 10. He announced 15 dialysis machines for the Nishtar Hospital, Multan, and construction of a flyover from Kalma Chowk to Komharanwala.
The CM said the sacrifices made by political workers against the dictatorship could never be forgotten, adding that it was lamentable that despite the announcement of the government, the cases against political workers had not been withdrawn. He ordered the remaining cases should also be quashed and a report should be submitted to him within two days.
He said that due to increase in the price of wheat, its cultivation on a larger area was but natural, which increased the demand for fertiliser and water. He said that as the ships carrying imported fertiliser arrived at Gwadar instead of Karachi, the farmers had to face a shortage of fertiliser. He directed officials concerned to computerise the lists of the deserving people benefiting from the food support programme so that they could be rehabilitated on a permanent basis. He further directed the officials that subsidised flour should be provided only to tandoors and hotels selling only pulses.
He announced an increase in the number of sasta tandoors in district Multan from 125 to 500 as well as for doubling the number of tandoors in Lodhran, Khanewal and Vehari. The CM further said that the federal government had promised to launch the installation of filtration plants in the province from March, which would make potable water available.